VIMS gets $872,000 grant to study shellfish contamination

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science announced Monday that it received an $872,000 grant to study whether a new instrument can quickly and accurately spot contaminated shellfish.

Researchers will use the instrument, an antibody-based “biosensor,” to detect pollutants that enter the water - from the air, petroleum spills and other sources - and settle in oysters, clams and other shellfish.

Researchers say the instrument can detect small amounts of pollution on site, as opposed to hours of lab work that can cost thousands of dollars.